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Leonora Nattrass
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Black Drop: the Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month (Laurence Jago) Kindle Edition

by Leonora Nattrass (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 773 ratings
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* A TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR *
* SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH *
* LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN *

'One of the best debuts of the year' - THE TIMES
'As nimbly realised as by the genre's master, Andrew Taylor' - FINANCIAL TIMES
'Black Drop is a joy from start to finish' - ANDREW TAYLOR

This is the confession of Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Spy.

July 1794, and London is filled with rumours of revolution. The war against the French is not going in Britain's favour, and negotiations with America are on a knife edge.

Laurence Jago, Foreign Office clerk, is ever more reliant on opium - the Black Drop - to ease his nightmares. A highly sensitive letter, whose contents could lead to the destruction of the British Army, has been leaked to the press and Laurence is a suspect. Then he discovers the body of a fellow clerk - a supposed suicide - and it seems clear where the blame truly lies.

But Laurence is certain both of his friend's innocence, and that he was murdered. But after years of hiding his own secrets from his powerful employers, can Laurence find the true culprit without ending up on the gallows himself?

A thrilling historical mystery, perfect for readers of C.J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

'This opium-fuelled gem is a murderous romp' - JANICE HALLETT
'A thrilling slice of pitch-dark historical fiction' - EMMA STONEX
'A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics' - W.C. RYAN

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  1. Part of series
    Laurence Jago
  2. Print length
    346 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Viper
  6. Publication date
    October 14, 2021
  7. File size
    3024 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08TB4ZFCH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viper; Main edition (October 14, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3024 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 773 ratings

About the author

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Leonora Nattrass

Leonora Nattrass

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Leonora Nattrass lectured on the literature and politics of the 18th century for almost ten years before running away to Cornwall, where she now lives in a seventeenth-century house with seventeenth-century draughts and knits the wool of her small flock of Ryeland sheep into complicated jumpers.

Her first novel, Black Drop, was a Times Book of the Year and her second, Blue Water, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and the CWA Historical Dagger.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
773 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Steph Warren
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and entertaining historical mystery fiction
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2022
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

I read this not long after reading The Spirit Engineer and, while set in different time periods, there are definite similarities between the two stories in both style and content.

The main character here, Laurence Jago, is a well-meaning clerk who is gradually drawn out of his depth – in the world of espionage, rather than paranormal investigations – and inexorably spirals downwards into addiction and paranoia.

I found the reading induced acid-anxiety, as poor Jago does his best to do the right thing at every turn, but inevitably gets it wrong and sabotages himself. I felt so much pity for his inept flailing towards justice and happiness!

The story is based on true events around the French Revolution and the trial of Thomas Hardy for treason, with some of the characters here fictional and others real historical figures. And I couldn’t tell the difference, to be honest, unless I specifically recognised the name (Pitt, for example). Yet again, a narrative that seamlessly blends history with story to great effect.

Overall, an interesting and entertaining historical mystery fiction, if painful to read for anyone with an ounce of empathy!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
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Wearsteel
3.0 out of 5 stars Did not Connect
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
While well written this story lacks an emotional connection or a pressing motive or need. While I finished it the character’s & characterisation just didn’t resonate.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written and gloriously readable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
I felt as though I was reading a Dickens novel at times. The colourful characters and vivid description of London at the turn of the 18th century. Jago himself would be perfectly at home in a Dickens story. Myopic, filled with self doubt , and completely out of his depth amid the machinations of Government ministers.
At times, I have to admit , I did want to shake him and give him a good talking to. But I think this is a good thing, as I was completely immersed in his life and the wonderful characters inhabiting it.
Leonora Nattrass is an immensely talented writer, completely at home with the historical thriller. I adore these types of books, and I would say that she is among the best writers I have come across. I look forward to reading many more by her.
I recommend this novel wholeheartedly.
2 people found this helpful
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Luisa L
5.0 out of 5 stars Black Drop, uno dei "migliori 15 romanzi storici dell'anno" del Sunday Times di Londra
Reviewed in Italy on December 2, 2021
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Black Drop di Leonora Nattrass è stato scelto come uno dei "migliori 15 romanzi storici dell'anno" del Sunday Times. L'autrice è una specialista in letteratura britannica del 18° secolo e la sua profonda conoscenza del periodo fa rivivere vividamente la storia dell'impiegato del Foreign Office Laurence Jago, che scopre uno dei suoi colleghi morto e sospetta un politico importunate di omicidio. La "goccia nera" significa oppio, dal quale il giovane Laurence, con l'aumentare dei suoi problemi, sta diventando dipendente.
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Rachel Capps
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Debut
Reviewed in Australia on March 24, 2022
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I'm not much of a historical fiction reader, but this debut held all the ingredients of a mystery, with the backdrop of a fascinating part of history.
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Reader-718
5.0 out of 5 stars Authors First Book.. A Blooming good effort, I say. An Interesting tale with scope moving forward…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2022
Verified Purchase
Ye Olde readers of book land, now hear this… I thought this was a really good tale. Let’s be constructive: a story is all about the way it’s told - agreed. However, we all start somewhere when embarking on new things, and the author has made a very, very decent start to her writing escapades.

I don’t think I have read any other books capturing this era and theme. I found it fascinating in many ways; there was the fact the protagonist works for the government and has a pretty big secret he’s hiding from them. He ‘chases a girl’ throughout the book, has an arch enemy, takes various potions to help him sleep - hmm! and, there’s a big, big secret, double game! what more could a story want? The escapades he has with his crazy newsman neighbour, I found hilarious & interesting both. The geography & use of London circa the period was also very interesting, & the fringe characters who are all up to no good in pursuit of their own goals, all added well to the story.

Does the author have areas to improve on? Of course, but come on, it’s her first book. As I said, a fine effort, & I think the naysayers are maybe a little too critical, however, if it’s not everyone’s idea of.. then, fair enough. But I liked it, much. Thank’ee very much, madam.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Overlong and boring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
A lot of words for hardly any plot. I struggled to finish this book. It might have been helpful, also, if the author hadn't assumed that readers were familiar with the characters from previous book(s).
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